Review: ANA First Class Suite Lounge Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT)

Radar screens went black at EWR again this morning. Tell me again that this airport is safe to fly in and out of?

Is the 3.5/5 in context of this being a First Class lounge?

Because I personally find their food selection to be very solid, so I don't see why it loses so many points.

@ yoloswag420 — Correct, that accounts for this being a first class lounge. I’m happy you like the food selection, and I agree it’s not bad, but a vast majority of first class lounges offer a la carte dining with table service, and this isn’t at all on that level, in my opinion. There’s almost zero personalization.

Looks like a suburban tech office from 1999

ANA is a consistently decent airline, but doesn’t try to be great in any respect… which is unfortunate because they really could be with just a little more effort.

Understood, but none of the Japanese first class lounges have that much personalized service either. I also feel like it's more fair to compare it vs JAL's NRT First Class lounge as well.

ANA's Suite Lounge at HND is very comparable to JAL's First Class Lounge at HND, and ANA's is arguably better imo.

Imagine giving a lounge 3,5/5 and at the same time such a bad review. Shouldn’t this, compared to other first class lounges in the area, be 2 stars max? Seems like you scale between 3-5 stars almost no matter what

"...it's more fair to compare it vs JAL's NRT First Class lounge as well."

ANA and JAL are on a global stage. The comparison should be to other global first class lounges, and that's what Ben did in fact compare them to.

To compare ANA and JAL FC lounges to each other? All that will do is result in a 3.5 vs. a 3.5 (as an example). Comparing one mediocrity to another mediocrity is quite a low bar of comparison, one which wouldn't really be helpful to anyone with an IQ above 90.

@ Marius -- I hear you, and honestly, I kind of regret doing the whole rating thing for that exact reason. The issue is that nowadays as long as something doesn't suck, everyone expects a perfect score.

In an ideal world, three stars would be the standard, and above average would earn more than that, and below average would earn less than that. But when you start giving things one and two stars, people just think you're a jerk, so...

@ yoloswag420 -- Agree with TravelinWilly on this. Yeah, the JAL First Lounge Narita also isn't amazing. But why shouldn't lounges be compared on a global stage?

Let me provide another example -- Asiana and Korean Air business class lounges just absolutely suck, at least historically. Is it unfair to criticize them, since by Korean standards, they're the benchmark, or is it fair to compare them to other lounges in the region, and around the globe?

Japanese carriers have amazing inflight products, but have underwhelming lounges. I think it's fair to call that out, as it's an area where they can improve.

Funny enough Japan is the ideal world in this case, as they rate accordingly for restaurants, hotels, etc.

True, on tabelog 3.5/5 would indicate a very good restaurant.

This might be a hot take, but I find ANA’s lounges to lack personality, and therefore unmemorable.

.... So.... The star system should be ignored because perception.

Hasn’t changed in a long time. The service was good when I was there. But yeah, nothing special.

For your reference Ben, SQ Solitaire PPS not flying in F also have access to this lounge. Think it’s an arrangement between ANA and SIA. Been granted access to this and the one in HND flying in J. Agree with your post and mainly went there only for the Japanese food. As a J pax it was still better in terms of crowds compared to the ANA lounge where it’s a nightmare trying to find seats especially during peak hours. Not a great F lounge but better than many Biz Lounge

It would be nice to read reviews of newly opened lounges at KIX, (Kix Kansai and Kix Premium). Last week we were taken by surprise when we were invited to brand new KIX-Kansai lounge (for J passengers), spacious, decent food selection (e.g. compared to ANA lounges), not crowded (Credit cards and Priority Pass are not accepted there).

Arguably you also went there during a bad time. The lounge is pretty empty from noon to around 3/4pm and can be a very nice place to spend some time, since the views are great.
Occasionally the First Class terminal in Frankfurt can be close to standing room only, and that would also take a way a lot from the experience there.

I found the F&B offerings at the ANA lounge to be lacking as we’ll - but then again you probably shouldn’t overdo it before an upcoming F flight with amazing offerings anyway.

Ironically, you should rate this like Japanese people rate restaurants/hotels and that's on a very tough 5 star scale.

The best restaurants in Japan still only get a 4.5, nothing ever gets a 5.

The First Class terminal in FRA being standing room only? Ridiculous.

The NRT Suite Lounge is not impressive, most of the pictures of seating options could have been taken in the ANA lounge as well.

The HND Suite lounge in T3 is equally poor, and highly over crowded. The new T2 Suite Lounge is quite an improvement.